A War-Torn Nation Is on the Brink of Famine

A grim warning is coming from Washington and beyond over how close Sudan is to famine. The US, Australia, the UK, Germany, France, and others declared that food security in Sudan is rapidly worsening and pressed the warring sides to remove all obstacles to aid deliveries, reports Reuters. The State Department urged global donors to boost funding and asked financial institutions to retool existing programs to confront the crisis. Farmers have been struggling to grow crops amid the war, with the UN warning in June that more than 5 million people faced severe hunger, including nearly 1 million children.

The State Department said the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, locked in conflict since April 2023, "bear primary responsibility" for easing the population's suffering. It called for open crossline and cross-border routes, including air access into Darfur, and protection for aid workers and civilian infrastructure. The war has displaced more than 14 million people and killed tens of thousands, per al Jazeera. The US accuses both sides of atrocities.